Gloucester's annual Sidewalk Bazaar opens Aug. 1

Wednesday

Jul 31, 2013 at 12:01 AMJul 31, 2013 at 8:44 PM

The annual Gloucester Sidewalk Bazaar takes place Aug. 1-3 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition to booths and tents that provide shopping opportunities and information, patrons can enjoy outdoor dining, children’s activities and live music.

Jason Brisbois/ capeann@wickedlocal.com

As a business owner on Main Street for 35 years, John Orlando is no stranger to the appeal of the Gloucester Sidewalk Bazaar.

“The street is closed to vehicular traffic,” Orlando says. “Some of the restaurants are feeding people outdoors. You will also see jugglers and face painters and magicians. This year, we have several musical groups performing all three days at the Cape Ann Savings Bank Mall, so no matter when you come down, you can listen to live music. You will be able to shop bargains.

“A lot of art will be displayed and sold, and different crafts,” Orlando says. “It’s the same format as in years past, but with many new faces.”

The Sidewalk Bazaar takes place Aug. 1-3 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., shutting down Gloucester’s Main Street to traffic as a means of allowing local merchants and nonprofits the opportunity to combine with out-of-town vendors and various entertainers, crafters and artisans to create a festival-like atmosphere.

In addition to booths and tents that provide shopping opportunities and information, patrons can enjoy outdoor dining, children’s activities and live music.

Orlando owned and operated Art Jewelers on Main Street for almost four decades and is quite familiar with the benefits the event provides for businesses in downtown Gloucester. It’s one of the reasons he now is working on the other side of the event as the coordinator, making sure everything runs smoothly from Thursday to Saturday.

“It’s a social event as well as a business event for the merchants,” Orlando says of the Bazaar, now in its 55th year. “It generates about 5,000 people a day. A lot of nonprofits participate, and those nonprofits bring the nonprofit followers. It’s good for local merchants, as well as the out-of-town vendors who keep coming back.”

The Sidewalk Bazaar is organized by the Gloucester Downtown Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to drawing interest and developing revenue for businesses in downtown Gloucester. Money raised from the bazaar funds other events meant to generate business in the area, including events around holidays such as Christmas and Easter, as well as drawings for gift certificates for downtown businesses.

The businesses are in the spotlight as well as the shopping and entertainment. Cape Ann Savings Bank is promoting the event, with local CPA Howard Frisch and Rockport National Bank co-sponsoring. Some local businesses are recording advertisements encouraging patrons to attend the event.

“The core group of people who plan this bazaar do a lot of work,” says Orlando. “We’ve been planning it since January, so you can see it takes a long time. It’s an event that we start planning for again next year as soon as we finish.”

Sidewalk Bazaar schedule of events

The 55th annual Sidewalk Bazaar will take place Aug. 1-3, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Main Street closed to vehicular traffic from Washington Street to Pleasant Street so local merchants and out-of-town vendors can set up in the streets to offer outdoor dining and shopping opportunities. Local nonprofits will be present to offer information to those interested.

Here is the schedule of events for the three-day bazaar:

THURSDAY, AUG. 1

9a.m.to 5 p.m.

Inflatable Bouncies in the Blackburn parking lot, provided by Prime Time Party Zone.

Roaming Railroad for children and families, embarks from Main Street’s West End.

Face Painting at various locations throughout Main Street.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Puppet Shows presented by North Shore Bible Church and Faith Christian School

11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Musical entertainment at the corner of Main and Porter streets:

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — Carol Karison and Her Pirates

12:30-2 p.m. — Amy Spillert

2-3:30 p.m. — Ron and Sheila Shrank

3:30-5 p.m. — Paul Harty

2 p.m.

Dawn’s School of Dance performs at the intersection of Main and Hancock streets.

FRIDAY, AUG. 2

9a.m. to 5 p.m.

Inflatable Bouncies in the Blackburn parking lot, provided by Prime Time Party Zone.

Roaming Railroad for children and families, embarks from Main Street’s West End.

Face Painting at various locations throughout Main Street.

Snakes at provided by Cape Ann Vernal Pond.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Puppet Shows presented by North Shore Bible Church and Faith Christian School

11 a.m.

Ms. Tina’s School of Dance performs at the intersection of Main and Hancock streets

11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Musical entertainment at the corner of Main and Porter streets:

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — Everly Sisters

12:30-2 p.m. — Ric St. Germain

2-3:30 p.m. — Marty Dunphy

3:30-5 p.m. — Everly Sisters

SATURDAY, AUG. 3

9a.m. to 5 p.m.

Inflatable Bouncies in the Blackburn parking lot, provided by Prime Time Party Zone

Roaming Railroad for children and families, embarks from Main Street’s West End

Face Painting at various locations throughout Main Street

Snakes at provided by Cape Ann Vernal Pond

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Puppet Shows presented by North Shore Bible Church and Faith Christian School

Sidewalk Chalk Art by Cape Ann Art Haven

11 a.m.

Tae Kwon Do Demonstration by Demetri’s Tae Kwon Do Studio at the corner of Main and Hancock streets